Combs could face 15 years or more, including life in prison, depending on the outcome.
The jury handling Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile case will continue talks on Wednesday, after failing to agree on the racketeering conspiracy charge, even though they reached verdicts on the other four counts.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian confirmed on Tuesday that jurors had decided on two sex trafficking charges and two counts of transporting people for prostitution involving Combs. However, the final verdict on those wasn’t revealed.
He told the 12-member panel to keep pushing through on the racketeering count after they sent a note saying opinions were deeply divided.
The 55-year-old music mogul has denied all five felony charges. If found guilty of sex trafficking, he would face a mandatory 15-year prison term. A conviction for racketeering could lead to a life sentence.
All jury decisions must be unanimous to count.
As the judge read the jury’s message aloud, Combs seemed visibly shaken, covering his face with his hand and rubbing his eyes. His legal team stayed close by, quietly offering support at the defence table.
In this intense seven-week trial held in Manhattan federal court, prosecutors painted Combs as a man who misused his fame and fortune to abuse two romantic partners over 20 years.
They claimed he made them engage in wild, drug-fueled sex sessions called “Freak Offs” with male sex workers, while he watched, filmed, and sometimes joined.
Two women-Cassie Ventura, an R&B singer, and another identified only as Jane -told the court that Combs assaulted them and used money and blackmail as control. They said he threatened to leak sex tapes or cut financial help if they resisted.
Combs’ legal team admitted he was at times aggressive in past relationships. But they insisted everything described in court was consensual, not trafficking. They argued he was a high-achieving businessman, known for his glamorous lifestyle, but not a criminal.
This jury’s struggle mirrors the chaos in Harvey Weinstein’s 2024 trial held just across the street. Back then, jurors argued for days and finally convicted Weinstein on one charge while deadlocking on rape, forcing a mistrial on that count.
To convict Combs of racketeering, prosecutors must prove that he led a group made up of his workers and partners, who helped him abuse others and hide the evidence.
The jury heard from ex-staffers who said they were asked to book hotel rooms for Freak Offs and buy drugs. A hotel guard also testified that Combs paid $100,000 to cover up surveillance footage of him attacking Cassie.
Rapper Kid Cudi told the court that after Combs discovered he had a relationship with Cassie, Cudi’s car was set on fire – a move he believes Combs was behind.
While the government painted a picture of control and crime, Combs’ defence pushed back, describing him as a party-loving, recreational drug user who kept his business and personal life separate.
Since his arrest in September 2024, Combs has been held in federal custody in Brooklyn as he waits for the jury’s final decisions.
